6 Popular Karnataka Tourist Places

Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, is a contemporary, fast growing, and prosperous place that's home to India's IT industry. It's full of young professionals and has a vibrant, cosmopolitan air about it. Many people love Bangalore, as it's a relatively relaxed city that's full of greenery and interesting buildings.

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One of India's top historical destinations, the laid back village of Hampi was once the last capital of Vijayanagar, one of the greatest Hindu empires in India’s history. It has some extremely captivating ruins, intriguingly intermingled with large boulders that rear up all over the landscape. The ruins, which date back to the 14th century, stretch for just over 25 kilometers (10 miles) and comprise more than 500 monuments. An incredible energy can be felt at this ancient place.

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Charming Mysore has an impressive royal heritage, with the city's main tourist attraction being the imposing Mysore Palace. There are many other interesting buildings, palaces, and temples to see. Mysore is also an excellent place to shop for sandalwood, and study Ashtanga yoga. Visitors can even stay at the rambling Lalitha Mahal, a palace hotel in Mysore.

• Study Yoga in Mysore
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The Kodagu region, often referred to as Coorg (the English version of its name), is an extremely picturesque and alluring mountainous area in southern Karnataka, not far from Bangalore and Mysore. The area is renowned for its sprawling coffee estates. Its stunning scenic beauty is captivating. The highlight of a visit to Coorg is undoubtedly a stay amidst the coffee plantations.

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Karnataka's Nagarhole National Park is one of the top national parks in India, and is an excellent palace to see elephants close up in their natural habitat. It's not unusual to see herds of elephants on the river bank. The park is a place of unspoilt wilderness, with serene forest, bubbling streams, and a tranquil lake. Nagarhole can be explored by jeep, elephant back and boat. Visitors can also go trekking.

Gokarna is a small and remote holy town in northern Karnataka, with some of India's best beaches. It draws both pious pilgrims and hedonistic holiday makers with equal enthusiasm. Go there to get a feel for what Goa was like in its heyday, although time is limited as developers are already seeing the potential of this area.